Qualified Through Christ

Background

Paul writing to the church at Colossae (Colossians is a letter)

Paul had never been to the church and so he relys on the appointed leaders (Epaphras) to share how things are going

Epaphras shares of the faith, endurance and struggles of the church

Colossae is struggling with false teachings (specifically about spiritual forces)

False teaching - perform rituals

Resurrection of Christ isnt enough

Original teachings that you live how you want then you make a sacrifice

Paul opens with encouragement of thankfulness, prayer, and wisdom

Paul then transitions to Jesus and who he is

Jesus is the image of the invisible God, Creator, Sustainer, Beginning and End, Jesus is the head of the church,

Through Jesus Gods plan of redemption was carried out, and because of Christs death we are able to be redeemed

Jesus calls us to endure

Paul explains that with Christ he is able to endure in the sufferings for the ministry of the church

God revealed himself to Paul and has been tasked with helping to lead the church of Christ

With God, through Jesus, and empowered by the Holy Spirit Paul continues to teach, preach, and shepherd the church

Paul is relating to the church that although they have never seen him, Paul has struggles but that the faith in Christ is what enables him to push on in his minisry

Last week we looked at what it is like for us to have faith, to be with Christ, and to push on with a vision of victory

Today we will look at the qualification we have because of Christ

Colossians 2:16-23 “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”

No More Law

As Paul finishes teaching about the work that Jesus accomplished, he transitions on to what that accomplishment means for the ceremonial law

We know that Christ came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it

Matthew 5:17 ““Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Them is plural, different laws like the mosaic and ceremonial

We know that we are no longer under the mosaic law but under the law of Christ.

We are to follow Christ and his teachings but we often dont talk about the ceremonial law.

I had a student ask, How were people saved in the Old Testament when Jesus hadnt come yet?

I answered that the people had faith that Jesus was coming. And it was in that faith and hope that they obeyed the law of God.

The people would hold to strict laws concerning eating and drinking (clean and unclean) and hold to feasts that celebrated the coming the Jesus

These feasts and festivals became often became ritualistic and was used against people

What Paul is saying is that the church of Colossae do not need to particpate or hold to this ceremony

Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial law through his death and resurrection.

The church is freed from all of the legalistic aspects of the law.

True freedom comes with Christ and that is why he is the substance

Colossians 2:17 “These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”

Paul uses the word shadow and it could be interchangeable with the word like

Luke 1:79 “to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.””

To give light to those who sit in the darkness and in the likeness of death

Acts 5:15 “so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.”

The people wanted just the likeness of Peter to fall on them.

Shadow is not the real object, shadow is empty, shadow doesnt complete the picture

What does complete the picture is Christ.

The ceremonial was a shadow of the Christ to come, but the substance who is Jesus did come and fulfilled it

The ritual nature of the laws and festivals meant nothing unless it was done to point to Christ, and the pointing to Christ doesnt compare to the actual work of Christ.

Jesus came to be the substance so that you and I arent bound to empty resemblenses

Jesus takes captive, captivity!

The church of Colossae is no longer restricted to what they eat, drink, or do, ceremoniously

They used to have to do those things to express faith in God

Now the Messiah has come and fulfilled his work and their faith is expressed in freedom

We are that church, we have liberty in our actions

Our faith is expressed outwardly about how we resemble Christ that is within us

Eat a pizza or hamburger or salad I dont care but show your waiter or waitress respect and love. Have a conversation with them. Pray for them. Tip generously.

Going to the store on Sunday? Be patient with the 100s of other shoppers. Smile to people as you pass them. Let the person with 5 items in front of you when you have 80 items, talk to others in line, It doesnt matter just display Christ

You will do these things and yet there will still be people who will try to disqualify you

Judgement and Disqualification

Although made complete there will be those that try to tell us we are not complete or that we dont belong

Colossians 2:18-19 “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.”

Vs. 16 Paul talks about people passing judgement and in Vs. 18 he brings up people calling for disqualification

What is the reason for this?

asceticism - severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.

Paul is telling the church that in addition to not having to hold to the law and festivals, they also dont have to stay strict to spiritual disciplines and do not have to rely on supernatural expressions

A form of asceticism was Fasting.

What do you do when you fast? You withhold from indulging in something. (Self-disciplined, avoids an indulgence)

Maybe you listened to my sermon when I preached on fasting. I believe in fasting.

But in my sermon you wont find me promising visions, or mystical encounters.

The church of Colossae was under attack by people saything they need to have mystical encounters

So fasting was practiced because it could lead to angelic encounters, visions, and heavenly type experiences.

I want to note, that the worship of angels listed here doesnt mean worshiping angels as if they were God

Rather, it was the fasting that lead to worshiping God with the angels or have angelic visions

And so because fasting could lead to such things, there were teachings that you needed to stay fasting

Why wouldnt you stay fasting? Dont you want to worship with the angels?

Have you ever had someone make you feel like you are missing out? I admitted one prayer night that I have never seen Indiana Jones. Yes that is my confession for the day. And it was all in good play but the response that the comment solicited was as if I have never lived until I’ve seen Indiana Jones. I dont know what movies are unless I’ve seen it.

The overwhelming response to Indiana Jones is that the movies are good movies. It would be harder to find people to say that I shouldnt watch it.

How obserd would it be if I were told that Indiana Jones is such a great movie that it should be the only movie I watch? That once I watch it I’ll never want to watch another movie again. I would want to watch the different movies over and over and over again and I will be in a state of contentment through it.

That is exactly what people were suggesting. That because prayer and fasting could lead to spiritual experiences, that the people should stay fasting 24/7. And if you werent in a state of fasting then something is wrong with your faith and if you have something wrong with your faith then you are disqualified.

and so the person disqualifying you is no longer worried about your relationship with Christ, rather the text says that they are “puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind” They are puffed up to the experience of God rather than the relationship with him.

We can fall into the same trap by saying things like I want to “experience God”, I dont “feel his presence”, I want to access the “supernatural with God”

It is in that moment that while your intent may be well intentioned, you are focusing on the wrong thing.

If you are a believer you have experienced God. If you are a believer you have Jesus dwelling inside you.

The very act of your salvation and becoming a new person because of Christ is supernatural. It is spiritual.

And yes, there are times when we do fast, there are times when we do pray harder, there are times when we do groan - but we understand that it isnt the action that causes God to do something.

Rather, its the focus on his son Jesus who is the head.

Jesus nourishes the body

Jesus knits the joints and ligaments

Jesus grows us with a growth that is of God.

Dont let anyone disqualify you just because you arent fasting, dont let anyone disqualify you just because you dont speak in tongues, and dont let anyone disqualify you because you arent seeking an experience.

You experience God through his word!

Every time you read scripture God is speaking to you.

Jesus within you is enough!

Submition

Colossians 2:20-22 “If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?”

This question here is an emphatic clarification that the church of Colossae was not only having trouble with hearing of false teachings but that some were submitting to it.

So Paul makes it clear as day here for the church to clarify what they believe.

Have you heard the phrase “come to Jesus moment”? Its mostly used when you are coming to a decision of major change. When a decision has to be made that will greatly impact what comes next. It is the moment when you realize or comprehend that things arent going to be the same.

Even more, they cant be the same.

Paul is giving the church a come to Jesus moment

If you believe that Jesus Christ is the final authority, if you believe he is greater than all the spiritual beings, then why do you follow or listen to the teachings of men that say Jesus is not enough.

Why do you let them say that you are disqualified becuase of “rules”.

At the end of the day you must recognize that the rules dont apply because you are no longer alive in this world

You are no longer bound to the rules of the world

Your life is an everlasting spirtual life that is made free because of Jesus

The things of this world will pass away but your given an everlasting life

Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

There are times in our lives when we desperatley need a “come to Jesus moment”.

When we ask questions on wether or not we truly believe Jesus when he says “My words will not pass away”

In a world full of fear, despair, anxiousness, doubt, self-righteousness, greed, we must look to what Jesus says and trust in what He has to say.

The world gives shadows for an answer. Things that may seem right. Things that are similar to Christ. But they arent Christ.

As a church we just had a “come to Jesus moment”. And this church has stepped out in faith. This church relying on Jesus when he says “My words will not pass away”.

We believe that Jesus blesses, we believe that Jesus loves, and we believe that Jesus is faithful

And so in our weakest moments as a church, as things are changing and the new seems scary, uncertain, unfamilar,

We rely on Christ and we recognize that we are not bound to a specific way of ministry, we are not bound to a building, - the things of this world will perish but souls are forever

We are free to lean into Christ and trust in him to continue to bless, to love, and be faithful.

Church Camp was full of actual come to Jesus moments - It was a beautiful picture of not the future church but of the current one

500 students praising God, thanking Jesus, and submitting to who He is.

They didnt submit to a church that perishes, they didn’t submit to a denomination that will perish, and they surely didnt submit to a specif human leader that will perish

Rather they submit to Christ who was, who is, and who forever will be

Their yes to Jesus is to recieve the Spirit and to begin their spiritual fight

Free From the Flesh

As we look at the last verse, it sets up chapter 3 perfectly,

Colossians 2:23 “These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”

In an attempt not to overstep on Pastor Colbys sermon for next week, I want to try to set it up.

The last part of this text mentions the indulgence of the flesh

Many times when we hear the word flesh we think of the physical.

Our physical body is sinful

When scripture mentions the flesh, Id like to pint out that the flesh is not a state of physical but a state of falleness

Our fallen state includes the body but it also includes the mind, the soul, heart, thoughts, emotion, our will.

Galatians 5:16-21 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Our physical flesh is at war with the spirit but its not just the physical flesh

Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, are all physical sins

idolatry - the making of idols is a physical act but the worshiping of idols is an issue of the soul

enmity - hatred is not a physical thing. its a heart issue

jealousy - is an emotion

We are in a state of falleness that is the flesh

Our state of falleness is what is against the spirit, not just physical acts

So Paul ends by warning that some of the false teachers will be promoting self-made religion and asceticism and it will seem wise.

It will seem like it would be a good practice to adopt in order to help keep you on the right path

But in reality their rituals and rigorous rules do nothing to stop the indulgence of the flesh

You can fast all you want, you can set up rules to keep you on the right path - but nothing you do will take away that fleshly, fallen nature.

We talked about last week that we were dead and made alive with Christ

Only a believer can wage a war with the the flesh because you have Jesus

Because you have the Holy Spirit within you.

Church, as a Christian there should be a war raging within you daily

There are temptations every day to feed our fallen state.

If you dont see it or recognize it I encourage you to pray and ask God to open your eyes to your blind spots.

Ask God to reveal if you have been blinded by any man made religion or asceticism

Ask God to reveal if you have been the judge or disqualifyer to a brother or sister in Christ

Ask God to reveal if you have a posture of submission towards Him or not

Are you here today and you dont have a war raging within you?

Maybe your desperately looking for answers

Maybe your desperately looking for peace within your soul

There is a God who brings peace through his son Jesus

Our one true God doesnt require any action

Anything you try to bring to him is insuffiecent

You have a debt that cannot be paid

Your debt requires justice and the justice is eternal

If you have never heard it before let me tell you that heaven and hell are a real place

The justice for your debt requires that you are sent to hell

But GOD

But God in His love, mercy, and grace, sent Jesus to pay the debt for you

The debt that requires a perfect life

He willingly went to the cross for you and for me.

God calls us to him through the Spirit and all that is needed is faith in Jesus Christ

The faith in Jesus alone reconciles us to a perfect God and gives us eternal life with Him in heaven

And that same Spirit that drew you to Him will be the same Spirit that enables you to wage the war against your flesh

It is the same spirit that frees you

Galatians verse states “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

Though you may still fail at time, the victory is already won through Jesus